Padlock



(man A. RICHARDS, sr.

PADLOGK.

No. 410,024. Patented Aug. 27, 1889.

N. versus. Pnmmhognpm, wnmngm u, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUGUSTUS RICHARDS, SR., on WILLIS, TEXAS;

PADLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,024, dated August 27, 1889. Application filed March 7, 1889. Serial No. 302.294. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that, AUGUSTUS RICHARDS, Sr., acitizen of the United States, residing at Willis, -in -the county of Montgomery and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Permutation-Padlocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of locks known as permutation-padlocks, in which the parts may be set to operate upon a comoination knowny only to the person using the ook.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide apadlock having a two-part locking-bolt, each member thereof having separate and independent action and being operated by different means, each unlocking device being guided by a scale the operative points on which are known only to the operator.

It is a further purpose of my invention to so construct and organize the parts of a key padlock that the combination upon which it is operated may be readily and quickly changed, and to provide the key with a simple movable index which may be shifted to correspond with the change in the combination and indicate the proper point to which the key must be turned in order to successfully operate the lock.

The invention consists to these ends in the several novel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and then pointed out in the claims which follow this specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section vof a padlock in a plane passing from side to side near the face-plate. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the front or face plate, looking toward its inner face. Fig. v-3 is a front view of the face-plate of the padlock. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on a plane passing through the lock-bolts. Fig. 5 is a view showing the key.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates the casing of the padlock, which is in all substantial respects o f the usual form and provided with ordinary guide-lugs 2. Within said casin g, against the inner face of the back plate, is arranged a locking-bolt 3, consisting of a iiat metallic plate having a slot 4, to receive a guide-pin 5, which projects from the inner surface of the back plate. In the upper edge of the bolt-plate, at a little distance from its forward end, is formed an upwardly enlarging or expanding notch 6, the lower end of which opens into the middle portion of a horizontal slot 7, extending a little distance upon each side of the notch or opening 6.

To the rear end of the locking-bolt 3 is pivotally connected the end of a tumbler 8, consisting of a flat plate slightly curved and extending downward, its lower end being pivotally attached to a pin `9 on the back plate.` A spring 10, mounted on the edge plate, bears against the back of the tumbler 8 and normally throws the locking-bolt in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1.

Lying side by side with the lock-bolt 8 is a similar but independent` bolt 12, havinga notch 13 opening into ahorizontal slot 14, the construction being in all respects the counterpart of that already described. The forward end of the bolt 12 moves on and is sup ported by a lug or support 15, which also incloses the bolt 8.

To the rear end of the bolt 12 is` pivotally connected one end of a link 16, its other end ybeing pivot-ally connected to an arm 16, rigidly mounted on a rock-shaft 17, which passes through the face-plate directly above the keyopening 18. To theouter end of this rockshaft is rigidly attached the upper end of the uard-plate 19, which covers the key-opening. The numeral 2O denotes the hasp of the padlock, which is pivotally mounted at one end upon the upper end of a lever 2l, lying within the lock-casing. This lever is pivoted at the point 22 upon a strong pin supported by the casing, and the lower end of the lever descends below the pivotal point and receives a screw 23, which is tapped through the end of said lever and swiveled in a bracket 24 on t-he casing. The squared end of the screw lies in a circular opening 25 in the edge plate, where it is accessible to a key or other device by which the screw 'may be turned. Upon the locking end of the hasp is a catchlug 26, having an opening of suicient size to receive the prongs 27 of boththe lock-bolts. Upon the outer face of the front plate is placed a circular graduated plate 28, thecenter of which is the post of the `lock or the spindle of the inserted key. The key adapted to this lock consists of a spindle 29,having a single key-plate 30 with- IOO out wards, the key acting upon the tumbler 9 only for the "purpose of retracting said tumbler and withdrawing the llock-bolt. Upon the key-spindle is mounted an index 3l,fast ened by a set-screw 32,01' by other means which permit the index to be turned upon the spindle and fastened or held at-different points of its revolution. This index is located at such a point that when the key is properly inserted the end of the index will lie in close proximity to the surface of the graduated plate 28.

The operation is as follows: It will be seen Y that when the catch-lug of the hasp is thrown down to enter the notches in the two lockplates the latter will engage therewith on either side of the notches in which the catchlug enters, and that the bolts, which are operated independently, one by the tumbler 9 and the other by the rotary movement of the guard-plate 19, must be brought to the exact position for releasing the hasp, since the opposite prongs of the bolts will otherwise engage the catch-lug and prevent its withdrawal. In order to effect the proper use of the key, the index is turned on the spindle to such a point that when the key is operated till the index stands at a given figure or graduation of the scale-plate 28 the bolt will be thrown to a point where the catch-lug will lie in the notch 6 and may be released. The independent bolt is withdrawn and thrown into engagement by swinging the guard-plate, the point where the latter is to be arrested being indicated by the scale-plate, the com bination being' altered by turning the screw 23, whereby the hasp is drawn slightly in one direction or the other, according to the rotation of the screw. This necessitates a change in the action of the key and guardplate in order to bring the bolts to the position for releasing the hasp. To accommodate the key to this change, the index is simply rotated upon the spindle to the required point and there fastened by the setscrew 32.

By this invention I provide a combination or permutation padlock consisting of few and simple parts, in which the change of combination may be easily and quickly effected, and by the use of which a safeguard against picking the lock is afforded at a very low cost as compared with the ordinary combinationlocks in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In apermutation-padlock, the combination, with a twin bolt consisting of two similar independent lock-plates lying side by side and locking in both directions of longitudinal movement, of a spring-impelled tumbler throwing one bolt and aguard-plate mounted on a rock-shaft having a lever linked to the other bolt, substantially as described.

2. In a permutation-padlock, the combination, with a twin bolt composed of two similar independent lock-plates lying` side by side and operated by independent means, of a hasp having a catch-lug, said haspbeing pivoted at one end upon a movable support, substantially as described.

3. In a permutation-padlock, the combination, with a hasp havinga catch-lug and pivoted upon a movable support, of a twin bolt composed of two independent lock-plates, each actuated by independent means, a guardplate operating one of said lock-plates and a key actuating the other, substantially as described.

4. In a permutation-padlock, the combination, with a hasp pivotally mounted upon one end of a lever fulcrumed between its ends and having a set-screw tapped through the other end, said set-screw being swiveled ina bracket on the lock-casing and having a squared head lying in an opening in the lockcasing, ot' a lock-bolt actuatedy by a springimpelled tumbler and a separate lock-bolt operated by the guard-plate, substantially as described.

5. In a permutation-padlock, the combination, with the hasp having aA suitable catolilug, of two independent lock-bolts, each consisting ofa flat plate having a longitudinal slotI and provided with a diverging notch entering the middle part of said slot, a spring-impelled tumbler operating one bolt and a guard-plate operating the other, substantially as described.

6. In a permutation-padlock, the combination, with a hasp pivoted at one end upon the end of a lever having a set-screw tapped through its other end and swiveled in a bracket in the lock-casing, of two similar independent lock-bolts, each having a longitudinal slot and provided with a diverging notch entering the middle part of said slot from the upper edge, a spring-impelled keyactuated tumbler pivoted at one end on` the casing and pivotally connected at the other end to the end of the bolt, a rock-shaft having a guard-plate covering the key-opening, and a keyoperating the spring-impelled tumbler and provided with an adjustable index on the key-spindle, whereby the change of combination may be indicated, substantially as described.

'7. In apermutation-padlock, the combination, with an adjustable hasp, of a twin bolt consisting of a lock-plate having a spring'- impelled tumbler and provided with a notch leading to a slot forming prongsA on both sides of said slot, a similar bolt operated by the guard-plate, a key having a movable index to operate the spring-impelled tumbler, and a graduated scale-plate surrounding the key-opening, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

AUGUSTUS RICHARDS, SR.

ICO

IIO 

